SVS: “Babe”

Last updated on: August 14, 2015 at 2:03 pm by Joseph Susanka

SVS: “Babe” 2015-08-14T14:03:52-06:00 Joseph Susanka

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20-Classic-Movies-Turning-20-in-2015-EMGN11[1] I know today’s claim is going to be a bit of a controversial one, but I’m going to go ahead and make it anyway:

Babe is hands-down the best movie that features a bunch of mice singing the teeth-rattling final theme from Camille Saint-Saëns’ Organ Symphony (by way of Scott Fitzgerald and Yvonne Keeley) that has ever been made.

Best. Ever.

There. I said it. And I absolutely stand by that statement, no matter how unpopular. (You are, of course, welcome to offer alternative suggestions for the best Mice Singing Saint-Saëns movie of all time in the comments. I won’t squelch honest and respectful debate on the matter; I just won’t agree with anything that’s not Babe.)

Not convinced you should watch it yet? Well, what if I add that it’s also the best movie that features the fabulous character actor James Cromwell dancing (hilariously) to that same theme? In an effort to cheer up a pig? Would you watch it then?

If so (and I can’t imagine that last one failing to clinch the deal), it’s on AMAZON PRIME INSTANT. And YOUTUBE($) and SOME OTHERS($).

It’s the award-winning story of a shy little pig who doesn’t quite know his place. With the help of an assortment of barnyard friends, Babe discovers that he can be anything he wants to be!

A Quick Aside: I love the fact that the trailer opens with “The Aquarium” from The Carnival of the Animals, written by …wait for it…Camille Saint-Saëns. That’s just the sort of self-awareness that makes my day.

Another Quick Aside: If you’re wondering why Hoggett’s Farm looks and feels a bit like Hobbiton, it might be cinematographer Andrew Lesnie’s fault. The Oscar-winning lenser shot both this film and the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and there’s a definite Charming and Colorful Life in the Country (visual) through line from Babe to Fellowship.

Last Quick Aside: Since we were just talking about LOTR, I’ll mention that the voice cast here is really wonderful, and that I can’t decide if Rex sounds more like Elrond or Agent Smith to me.

Oh-Wait-One-More-Aside (And This One’s Important): There’s a sequel. It’s called Babe: Pig in the City. It’s directed by George “Mad Max” Miller. And it’s pretty unsettlin’ stuff. Don’t watch it.

“That’ll do, Pig. That’ll do.”

Attribution(s): All posters, images, and stills are the property of Universal Pictures and respective production studios and distributors.

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